Parlor baseball game



Nov. 9,l926. V 1,606,157

. W. J. ENNISSON PAHLOR BASEBALL GAME Filed Dec. 2. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,157

w. 'J. ENNISSON PARLOR BASEBALL GAME FiledDec. 2, 1921 .2 Sneets -Sheei.2

/ VE/ TOR Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

WALTER JAY E NNTSSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EARLOR BASEBALL GAME.

Application filed December 2, 1921.

This invention relates to baseball game devices and outfits and is inthe nature of an improvement upon the game-board and outfit describedand claimed in my first Patent No. 1,155,714.

In the game-board and outfit of my said patent I utilized a spinning orindicating device by which the batting, running and ball plays aredetermined, the result being largely a matter of chance and'providinglittle opportunity for the display of skill. Two indicating points orlines were used and itwas found that the players frequently confusedthese points or lines .with the result that the game did not proceed inthe logical and real order, causing the players to lose interest. Theindicator of said patent was also provided with different sets ofrunning and ball numbers, one set used by the run- I ners and the otherset by the other active players, and inasmuch as the contestants arealternately the runners andthe other active players, there was alwaysconfusion as to which set were to be used in any instance.

In said game-board outfit I provided colored buttons to represent theplayers of the teams which merely rested'upon the board. It was foundthat the buttons were frequently jarred from the positions in which theywere placed, especially when the board was held in the laps of thecontestants, with the result that considerable confusion and uncertaintyarose. The contestants also frequently confused the runners and thebasemen with one another by forgetting the color they were using at thatparticular time, and moved the wrong buttons, which re suit-ed in suchan extent of uncertainty that a restart was frequently necessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved spinner orindicator for determining the batting, running and ball plays in whichconsiderable skill and knowledge of the game can be exercised, in whichthe procedure more nearly approximates actual playing rules and actions,and which is exceedingly simple, and inexpens1ve.

A further object is to provide an improved Serial No. 519,474.

game construction-in which the likelihood of confusion of the runnersand basemen is eliminated; in which accidental or 'unintenthe novelfeatures of the invention will be particularly pointed out in claims.

- In the accompanying drawing, Figures .1 and 2 are plan views of thedisk; Fig. 3 is a diametral section ofthe disk. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveplan view of game-board, and Figs. 5 and 6 are large views of menpieces. Fig. 7 is a representation of a ball piece to be employedinconnection. with the gameboard. I i 1 In the illustrated embodiment thediamond in miniature is indicated upon the game-board A, the diamondbeing defined by small squares B, B,'B and B representing respectivelythe home second base and third base. The bases and plate, first base,

home plate are connected by lines a,each having three small intermediaterunners positions a for breaking the line into four substantially equalsections. A chain of six stations 6 surrounds each base, over whichchain the basemen are shifted in making their playsin a mannerdetermined, by an indicator or spinner. The ball position stations 0 atthe home plate, the batters boxcl, the catchers chain of six stations 6,the

pitchers boX of four stations f,.the three umpire stations g, therunners position. a,

the six chain stations offthe fielders posi-- tions it, i and j, and thesix chain stations of the short stop position are provided with smallholes, to receive small positioning pins or pegs in upon the bottoms ofminiature players Z, m and a. The ball piece PB is employed to representthe positions of the real ball upon the-diamond, and because of itsconstruction may be termed the peg ball, in contrast to the spinner ballSB, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This peg ball has a peg K similar insize, form and function to that of the players, and is adapted to beplaced in the same holes occupied by the basemen and fielders of theout-team.

The position and movement of the players and the ball upon the board isdetermined by the position of the spinner ball SB upon to another in thedirection oi the spinner when the disc D has ceased to rotate, thespinner ball then occupying two panels containing marginal numerals, andalso located within a wider panel upon the outer rim of the spinner.These numbers are intended for placing the ball upon the diamond at theplace indicating the field to which it has been batted, or the base towhich it has been thrown, the position of the spinner ball determiningthose respective actions in accordance with the relative posi tions ofthe men and the peg ball upon the board at the time of a given spinning.Thus the large sectional numbers from 1 to '6 on the extreme outercircle of the disc may be employed exclusively for positioning the pegball upon one of the similarly designated six positions of the fieldersand basemen. At the same time as pointed out the spinner ball givesnumbers with which the runners of both sides may advance either on theone side from base to baseor on the other side from number to numberaround the series of six numbered positions at each base and field untilthe ball is recovered.

At each successive spinning of the disc the base runner may be movedfrom one hole the home plate in accordance with the numbers thusselected by the spinner ball SB. 'The num bers upon the'ma'rgin ot thespinning disc and the similarly arranged marginal numbers adjacentthereto upon the portion of the spinner, because of the movement of oneand the stationary position of the other, make it possible topredetermine practically all movements of a baseball game, which couldnot be done unless a part of these numbers were'permanently attached tothe larger or sectional numbers 1 to 6, as shown, these numbers 1 to 6being used for positioning the part of the marginal numbers having apartially permanent and partially variegated relationship therewith. Theplayers Z are basemen and have a post suggestive of a baseman. Theplayers m are used as batters and runners and represent a player runningwith arms" extending forwardly. These players m are provided with anotch m between theupper faces of the arms and the chest so as'to'receive and support a miniature bat in a characteristic batting posture.The bat maybe removed after the ball has been batted and the playerstarts toward first base. The runners and basemen are so difierent inappearance and-posture that the contestants rarely it ever mistakethe-players and move the wrong one. The other players a have anappearance and posture suggestive of their duties so as to provide avery realistic setting, and I have found that this has a markedpsychological eiiect upon the contestants and greatly increases theinterest in the playing of the game. The pins or pegs upon the ball andplayers prevent their accidental or unintentional displacement from thepositions upon which they are placed or to which they are moved.

The spinner or indicator for determining the batting and running andball movements comprises in the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a.shallow, pan P'with a centrally upstanding pin p on the bottom wall.disk D with a spinning button 0 carried centrally thereof is mounted torotate upon the pin 79. The annular portion of the bot tom wall 01" thepan surrounding the disk is divided into maj or and minor graduations Q,and g respectively. The major graduations are each a sixth of a circlein extent and minor graduations are each a fourth of a major graduation.The major graduations are marked consecutively from 1 to 6 and the minorgraduationsare selectively marked with the numerals l to a and certainof these, as g, are given a special designation for a purpose to beexplained hereinafter; The periphery of the disk is provided withgraduations 1 having preferably the same angular value as thegraduations These graduations are given selective values .ra ging fromno value at all tothe value 4i and the values above zero are inscribedthereon.

lVithin the line or" these graduations the disk is provided with groupsof six shallow depressions a which may be stamped or pressed therein,one group for each of the three bases, the three field positions andshort stop. Sub-groups of two of each of these groups are connectedtogether by arrows which extend to the graduations of the disk. Thesemain groups are marked with distinguishing characters such as L, meaningleft field, l, 2 and 3, meaning first, second and third bases, S meaningshort stop, It meaning right field, CF meaning center field, and Cmeaning catcher.

The bottom wall or" the pan between the periphery ofthe disk and theflange or side wall slopes'slightly downwardly, as does also theperipheral portion of the disk, but in an opposite direction so as toprovide a shallow trough between them toward the bottom of which thespinner ball SP tends to roll. The graduations of the disk and the minorgraduations of the pan are preferably marked oil by small ridges t,which are preferably formed by pressing them. from thematerial(preferably metal.) of the pan and disk. These ridges formsemi-pockets for clearly defining the various positions 01 the spinnerball. ,VVhen the disk is rotated,

the ball in the trough is given a spin around the pan and the positionlll'WlllCll it stops determines certain of the plays.

For an extended explanation oi the manner in which the game is played,reference may be had to my said prior patent, and the explanation hereingiven willbe directed to those features which are modified by thepresent construction changes. I

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1,. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, anda disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the panclose to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annularportion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indiciathereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its peripherycooperating with sets of graduations oi the annular portion indetermining plays on the game-board.

. 2. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, adisk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the panclose to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annularpor-'' tion surrounding the disk two sets of gradu ations with indiciathereon, said disk havin graduations and indicia on its peripherycooperating with sets of graduations of the annular portion indetermining plays on the game-board, and also having on its face aplurality of shallow depressions arranged in groups, one group for eachfield position.

3. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, adisk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the panclose to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annularportion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indiciathereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its peripherycooperating with sets of graduations of the an nular portion indetermining plays onthe game-board, and'also having on its face aplurality of shallow depressions arranged in groups around the same witharrows running from sub-groups of each group to the graduations of theperiphery.

4. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, adisk 0t less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate v within the panclose to and flat against the bottom, said pan having in the annularportion surrounding the disk two sets of graduations with indiciathereon, said disk having graduations and indicia on its peripheryco-operating with sets of graduations oi the annular portion indetermining plays on the game-board, having on its face a plurality ofshallow depressions arranged in groups around the same with arrows running from sub-groups of each group to the graduations of the periphery,and a small spinner ball to be batted around the pan and into one of thedepressions to determine to what field position the game ball should bemoved. v r

5. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, adisk of less diameter thali the pan mounted to rotate within the panclose to and flat against the bottom, and a small ball in said pan, saidpan having in the annular portion surrounding the disk two sets ofgraduations with indicia thereon, said disk having graduations andindicia on its periphery co-operating with sets of graduations of theannular portion in determining plays on the game-board, the annularportion of the pan and the peripheral portion of the disk forming ashallow annular trough to carry the ball into contact with both the diskand pan and spin it when the disk is rotated. 1

6. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, adisk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the panclose to and against the bottom, and a small ball in said pan, said panhaving in the annular portion surround- .ball into contact with both thedisk and pan and spin it when the disk is rotated, the

graduations of both disk and pan having radial ridges to form lines ofdemarcation and semi-pockets.

7. An indicator for baseball game-boards comprising a shallow pan, and adisk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotate within the panclose to and fiat against the bottom, said pan having in the annularportion surrounding the disk major graduations, and also minorgraduations adjoining the periphery of the disk, said disk havingperipheral graduations co-operating with the minor graduations of thepan in determining certain of the plays on the game-board. 1

8. An indicator for baseball game devices comprising a shallow pan, anda spinner disk of less diameter than the pan mounted to rotatehorizontally therein above the bottom wall, said pan having major andminor graduations around the periphery of the disk, certain of the minorgraduations having characteristics distinguishing itfrom the others ofthe minor graduations, the

peripheral portion of the disk having grad- 9. In a baseball gamedevice,a board having thereon a representation oi a miniature diamond, and aminiature player having the suggestive characteristics of a runner an 5also having means to receive and removably support a miniature bat in amanner suggestive of a batter. V

10. In a baseball game device, a board having thereon a representationof a minia- 1 ture diamond. and a miniature player having the suggestivecharacteristics of a run ner with forwardly disposed arms and alsohaving a notch between the upper side of the arms and the chest forreceiving and removably supporting a miniature bat in a 15 mannersuggestive of a batter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

WALTER JAY ENNISSON.

